Sandr a Ke l l ey, MAS Before promo, Sandra Kelley, MAS, worked at General Motors for 21 years. “When I graduated from Michigan State University, I got recruited by General Motors. At the time, that was great because you’re supposed to graduate and get a good job.” Kelley worked her way through several different departments at General Motors, but there was something else she wanted. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit,” Kelley says. “When you have a strong entrepreneurial desire, it’s hard to work a corporate, 9-to-5 job. I was helping General Motors build great cars, but my eyes and ears were always open for great business ideas.” Twenty-two years ago, a traveling franchise show came to Kelley’s hometown of Flint, Michigan. “There was this one small table, and it was this company called Press-A-Print. On this table, they had equipment for printing promotional items. I had no idea what promotional products were. I didn’t even know that they had a name. I was intrigued. I was like, ‘I use these, and everybody uses these. This is interesting!” Kelley followed up and bought a business from Press & Print. She worked on her business, the future Prestige Promotions, LLC, for four years part-time while still working full-time at General Worth the Risk Sandra Kelley, MAS, left her successful career to start a business in an industry she’d just learned about. After 18 years, Kelley, immediate past president of Michigan Promotional Professionals Association and founder of Michigan-based distributorship Prestige Promotions, LLC, is glad she took the chance. by Kristina Valdez From left to right, JaQuita Kelley, marketing director,Sandra Kelley, MAS, COO, and Craig Kelley, Sr., MAS, CEO, attend a client’s grand opening. 78 | MAY 2022 | CONNECT
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzU4OQ==